Harlequin Books discussion

Ebooks came along just in time because print books were spilling out of the shelves in every room of our house!
Samantha Ann King

Samantha wrote: "Ebooks came along just in time because print books were spilling out of the shelves in every room of our house!
Samantha Ann King"

LOL yes, they did. My Kindle and Nook are full of goodies for me to read without anyone knowing how many books I have or recently bought. ;)

So authors, since this is the phone room want to tell us about getting that "call" and becoming a published author? Pretty please. I love hearing about them.

Harlequin Books wrote: "So authors, since this is the phone room want to tell us about getting that "call" and becoming a published author? Pretty please. I love hearing about them."
I was sitting in my car in a parking lot waiting for my daughter to finish her driver's ed class when my cell rang. It was Angela James from Harlequin's Carina Press! She wanted to publish Sharing Hailey, my first book! I don't remember much from the conversation. But my daughter got in the car while I was talking to Angela. When I hung up, I was still dazed. I told my daughter, "They want to publish my book." She smiled (something she rarely did since she was a teenager!) and said, "Yeah, I figured that out." I still remember that smile! Samantha Ann King

Samantha wrote: "When I hung up, I was still dazed. I told my daughter, "They want to publish my book." She smiled (something she rarely did since she was a teenager!) and said, "Yeah, I figured that out." I still remember that smile!"
Aww, great call and you got a mother-daughter moment too. Thank you for sharing!

I had the craziest call week ever. I had won the Blaze contest in July of 2013 (got that call literally the day before going to my first RWA national conference, which is a whole nuther story LOL) and submitted the full manuscript in January of 2014. Valentine's week rolls around, and I got a call on Tuesday from an agent I had literally just submitted to days before offering representation. Talked with her the next day, accepted, and the day after that, February 13, the day before Valentine's Day, I was home in a snowstorm with my family when my cell rang. It was the editor I had worked with after the winning the Blaze contest (she was my prize for a month) offering me a contract for my book. Which was amazing enough, but then she rendered me completely speechless when she offered me a contract for three more books! I celebrated with my family by snuggling, watching sappy movies and almost immediately registering for RWA 2014, which I had agreed with hubby I wouldn't go to - unless I was under contract!

Oh boy! This is my "phone story"...

It's actually kind of a fluke that I answered the phone in the first place. I have a bit of a weird phone phobia and I tend to let numbers I don't know go to voicemail... and I don't always check the voicemail right away! I also had my parrot out with me that morning, and he has some kind of anti-phone complex -- meaning, he bites "to protect me" when I use the phone (I know, I know, birds are weird).

But, since my husband was out at a meeting and sometimes calls me on his way home, I leisurely made my way across the house (I should mention I don't keep my phone with me all the time either)... thinking I could call him back if I didn't answer on time, or at all, since Mango was sitting on my shoulder.

Of course, I didn't recognize the number, but as soon as I saw "NY, NY" in the corner of the caller ID screen, I knew. I believe my first thought was, and please excuse my exclamation, "oh, crap!" Hahahaha. But I had a choice to make immediately: Try to get Mango back in the cage as quickly as possible (not likely) and risk missing the call, or picking up anyway.

I picked up anyway, and Mango actually behaved himself! Well, aside from squawking in my ear and grumbling in annoyance that I'd stopped paying attention to him. But, since I knew the editor who'd likely be calling me was a bird owner herself, I figured she'd understand!

I love call stories too!! They always put a smile on my face.

Here's mine: I finished and editing writing my first romance novel in May of 2013 (after starting it during NanoWriMo in 2012). I had no experience other than a love of reading romance novels and the desire to be an author, which I'd harbored since I was a little girl.

On a whim I entered the story in a pitch contest for Harlequin's KISS line, where I had to describe the story in a single paragraph. While I didn't final in the competition, I did get a request from the editor. Over the next eight months I went through three rounds of revisions with that same editor and got the call December 13th 2013.

I remember the exact date because it was my grandmother's birthday and although she's no longer with us, she's one of the biggest influences in my life. She also fostered my love of reading from the start. It seems like fate that I got that call on that particular day.

When I saw a tweet from the editor saying she had a 'special call' to make I got my phone and put it in front of me (without telling my husband) and I started at it until it started ringing. The rest is a complete blur, but I remember crying on the phone to my mum and my husband whisking me out to a nearby bar for celebratory champagnes.

Love this, Stephanie!
Stefanie wrote: "I love call stories too!! They always put a smile on my face.

Here's mine: I finished and editing writing my first romance novel in May of 2013 (after starting it during NanoWriMo in 2012). I had ..."

Well, I know where to go when I need something to make me smile! These call stories are definitely a pick-me-up to any bad mood. Thank you for sharing.

I got the call from my then agent. Apparently most of my side of the conversation was 'You're joking!' in various tones.

I told my husband he had to take me out to dinner that night as novelists don't cook. I've since found this to be untrue.

LOL Sue. If I thought it would get me out of cooking, I might be tempted to write. Well, to tell the truth, it wouldn't make any difference if I managed to write a story because I would not get the "call." I know my limitations. :) ~ Kim

My call story is here http://pinkheartsociety.blogspot.co.u...

My nooks and my ipad mini where the best things I ever spent money (or gift certificates on. It sure has helped my bookbuyingholic habit. LOL. I also don't have much room to put books so has helped that problem now I still buy a few books every once in awhile because nothing is better than going in a bookstore and walking around but it's not like I used to do. Now I think and choose before I decide. But I still like to always have a real book and a ebook (or 2, 3 or 4) going at the same time. One of the problems with ebooks is I'm always jumping around between books because it's so easy.

I was just scrolling on Facebook and found this post from Michelle Willingham

"Nine years ago today, I received a phone call at 10:03 a.m. that changed my life. My editor, Joanne Grant, called and bought my first book, Her Irish Warrior. 32 titles later, over a million of my books have sold throughout the world. I am so grateful to my readers for buying my books and for giving me the chance to live my lifelong dream of being an author. Thank you for everything!"

Happy Anniversary Michelle!